New-look Rams open season against Surry Central

BOONVILLE - A week into the 2012-13 basketball season around the area, Starmount tips off its regular season schedule tomorrow night in Boonville.

The boys and girls varsity teams host non-conference foe Surry Central in the varsity double-header tomorrow night to open the season.

The Lady Rams tip things off at 5:15 p.m. before the new-look boys take the court around 6:45 p.m. in the second game of the night.

For the boys, Starmount replaces their all-conference starting five from last season’s 18-9 squad, including potential conference player of the year candidate Charlie Wagoner, who transferred during the off season.

First year head coach Rocky Horton will rely on a young roster that only features two seniors, Zach Worley and Nathan Williams. Worley averaged nearly 2 points per game last season, while Williams is a new addition to the club.

Juniors Gunner Cass, Isaiah Billips, Ben Combs and Dalton Vestal, along with sophomores James Ashley, Luke Shore and Josh Houser will have to step up to fill the voids left by last season’s senior class.

For the girls, the Lady Rams will look to all-conference honoree and recent Guilford College signee Heaven Walters to lead the team.

Walters, who averaged nearly 17.5 points per game as a junior, will take more on more of the load for Starmount after the rest of the Lady Rams decided not to play this season.

Joining Walters is fellow senior Emily Pack and junior Whitney Pardue. A large group of freshman will also look to make an impact on varsity in their first season.

Miracle Walters, Alisha Baity, Morgan Randleman, Darion Dobson, Bralyn Hampton, Ashley Johnson, Molly Nichols and Sabrina Beatriz dominated on the middle school level at Starmount, only losing one game in their two seasons there, and will make the transition to the varsity squad.

Surry Central swept Forbush on the opening night of the season before splitting a double-header with Wilkes Central last Tuesday. Against Wilkes Central, the Lady Golden Eagles won the opener to knock off the defending Mountain Valley Conference champions, while the Surry Central boys won the night cap.

Reach Matthew Gorry at 835-1513 or mgorry@heartlandpublications.com.

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